Drop Back Pass

Memphis Going To The Hall!

2006-08-05T10:45:00.000-05:00

Today the city of Memphis and the USFL will have someone going to the Football Hall of Fame: Reggie White. You see, before he played for the Eagles, Reggie White was the defensive end for the Memphis Showboats, of the USFL. While the NFL rejected the city year after year, the USFL did not. When the league came to town, the city embraced it as well as Reggie White. The Minister of Defense recorded 23 and a 1/2 sacks in two years in Memphis. Not only was he a fan favorite while at the University of Tennessee he was the shining star while with the Showboats. So for all those fans, who followed the Showboats, sit back and enjoy the ceremony today because it is a chance to remember the memories that he provided to the city.

The Pot calling the Kettle Black

2006-06-26T19:52:00.001-05:00

I always find it funny and a little hypocritical that European nations, the majority of the time, turn their nose down at American culture as well as American behavior. Having experienced this several times, I am somewhat amussed that these nation's ills always seem to find thier way out of the closet during the World Cup or any other international sporting event. Look at the behavior of the Hooligans that has taken place during the past couple of weeks. Several European countries police forces, have sent officers to deal with thier country's hooligans. Interpol, International Criminal Police Organization, has a database of hooligan fans, from around Europe. When I was studying in London, I got a behind the scenes tour of Arsenal. Arsenal spent $7 million dollars on a security system to deal with hooligan fans. Well the only team here that would spend that much on a system like this is the Eagles. It has also been revealed, to unknowledgable fans in the States, the major problem that black futbol players are experiencing with racism. While we, as Americans, have our own issues with race; I have never known, in the past 20 years, American fans to begin emitating monkees when a black player entered the game. As I have stated we have our issues with race but we have come a long way in terms of confronting race head on. So I wonder which nation is uncivilized now? Last time I checked thier were no monkees in our stands!

The Pot calling the Kettle Black

2006-06-26T19:52:00.000-05:00

Houston We Have a Problem!

2006-06-12T19:13:00.000-05:00

I am extremly disappointed in myself because I bought into the hype of surrounding the US Soccer team. I let myself believe that they really were the 5th best team in the world, knowing in the back of my mind that this was truly a pipe dream. I knew we were in trouble when I watched the friendly matches and the one thing that I noticed was that we are not a physical enough team to compete with the European teams. If we want to compete against these teams we are going to have to find 11 guys with the size of Oguchi Onyewu, Gooch. We need 11 men with size and speed of Terrell Owens and the attitude Ronnie Lott, and here in lies the problem. If the United States actually wants to win a World Cup by 2010, as has been proposed, soccer is going to have move out of the suburbs and into the inner city as well as into the rural areas. US Soccer is going to have to attract athletes that want out of the situation that they currently live. People can talk about how much heart the US team has, but heart ain't going to get it done on the international stage in which the national team currently plays. As a friend pointed out we are good enough to compete in CONCACAF but we are not prepared to compete against the European teams. Think about this I can gaurantee you that the majority of the US players come from comfortable backgrounds, meaning middle to upper middle class. Compare thier backgrounds to the backgrounds of the Brazilian players or the Mexicain players and you will probably notice a stark contrast. We will not win a World Cup until the soccer's image moves away from soccer moms and orange slices to the way the rest of the world plays: a physical tough game.

Striker Magazine and Nike

2006-05-23T19:37:00.000-05:00

I love to watch international soccer, so I decided to buy some materials to prepare me for the World Cup. One of the publications that I purchased was Striker magazine. Flipping through the pages there is one glaring fact, Nike spent alot of money on advertising. In fact they are the only advertiser. If you look at the photos that accompany the articles it is hard not to notice the Nike swoosh. This is just the latest blurring of commerce, sport, and journalism. When I bought this magazine I was hoping to find objective articles concerning the World Cup and the international footballers, not international players that are sponsored by Nike. I feel a little dupted by this, because there is no objectivity what so ever because the magazine is based upon Nike's marketing agenda. I know people,who:would say that this is a brillant branding ploy. How do we get people to buy a magazine, whose sole intent is to enhance Nike's reputation as a leader in soccer/football gear? Nike has been trying to become the leader in soccer for the last 15 years, overtaking Adidas. So in this attempt they are trying to enter the world of journalism as well? I wouldn't feel so bad if the name Striker was replaced by a giant swoosh; then it would be buyer beware.

Memphis fans, alot has happened since I last posted

2006-05-18T19:38:00.000-05:00

Alot has happened since I was last online. Shawne and Darius have left for greener pastures; there was a big surprise! 20 changed to 34 but stayed in the South and the biggest shocker Gostowski was drafted by the Patriots. Calipari has agreed to a 16 game conference schedule to help CUSA's RPI. Today Jerome Woods was released by the Chiefs and our baseball team might have a winning record this season. All in all a busy three weeks.

Am I The Only One?

2006-05-18T19:29:00.000-05:00

Last night I tried to watch the NBA playoffs and I believe that I saw something that is truly unbelievable: Marv Albert has gone blonde. Can it work that way? Can he go from a black toupe to a blonde one and no one notice? Did he have to kill a golden retreaver puppy to get that rug? I don't know maybe I was hallucinating?

Part 2

2006-04-24T21:02:00.000-05:00

Well I am a week late on part two of my discussion of the Memphis Grizzlies but I lost total interest in this post. It is spring time hear in Memphis and there are too many other things to do besides sitting inside watching basketball. The next sporting event that I look forward to watching is the Kentucky Derby presented by Yums Brand, i.e. KFC. I understand why Yums Brand would want to be associated with the Derby but why would the Derby sell it's sole to KFC. To me this ranks up there with the idea of the Master's having a title sponsor. As a person who educated in the field, of sports marketing, I still beleive that there are a handfull of events that are sacred and the tradition is more important naming rights. The Derby is one of those events, as is the Super Bowl, World Series and the Master's. When you think about the Derby do you think about fried chicken? No, you think about mint juleps, people dressed to the nines, and the fine horses that make it all possible. What is next The Master's presented by Wal Mart? Why not John Daly is sponsored by Hooter's.

The Memphis Grizzlies and Their Attendance Problem

2006-04-19T19:16:00.000-05:00

It has been discussed ad nausium this season as to why the Memphis Grizzlies are not drawing fans to the game and I have the answer. Pundits want to blame the median household income and the fact that the majority, of the city proper, residents live below the poverty line; while this might play a small role in the low turn out it is not the main reason. The reason why they do not have a larger fan base is due to thier poor branding efforts. What? When the Grizzlies moved from Vancouver it took team management 3 seasons to change their logo and colors. To some this might be a trival matter but it helps when the team looks like it belongs in a certain city. Teal, red, white and brown do not reflect the city of Memphis. when the team did roll out a new logo and colors they did it in a manner that was simplistic and trite. They tried to link the new colors with the musical past and heritage of the city by calling the blue Beale St. blue. Which leads me to the next problem thier advertising campaign in which the team arbertrariliy intertwined images of music with the Grizzlies without making a deeper link with artists that came from the city. They threw something together and hoped it would stick and it really hasn't. Thier marketing strategy is the equivilent of throwing darts in the dark, just throw it and hope it gets close. Tomarrow I will have part 2 of my analysis.

Where in the World is Catholic Packer Fan?

2006-04-13T09:51:00.000-05:00

Can anyone tell me what happened to the Catholic Packer Fan? I have tried to go to his site but it is now a gardening site. Is this a joke?

A Tragic End To A Tragic Story

2006-04-11T20:43:00.000-05:00

Today Logan Young was found brutally murdered in his home, here in Memphis. They haven't been able to identify the body because of the state in which the body was found. A forensic autopsy will have to be done to proove that it really is Logan Young.

Logan Young is responsible for the pay for play scandle involving Albert Means, Lynn Lang, and the University of Alabama. He was covicted and sentenced last year for several federal charges surrounding this incident. A truly sad ending to a sad life.

West Signs A New Contract

2006-04-11T20:40:00.000-05:00

Along with Cal getting more money the Tigers spent even more when they increased Tommy West's salary and increased the spending for his assitant coachs' salaries. West signed a deal that will increase the length of his deal until 2010.

Memphis 1 NC State 0

2006-04-11T20:26:00.000-05:00

Diamond Dave once sang " I've been to the edge and I stood and looked down..I've lost alot of friends there baby" well that is what happened today to the University of Memphis. Calipari and NC State took the Tigers to the edge but instead of jumping over Lovers Leap Coach Cal pushed the Wolfpack off the cliff. Despite the bad blood that developed between Cal and RC Johnson the alumni stepped up and generated enough money to make a competitive offer to Coach Cal. The bad blood developed when Cal was offered a $100,000 raise which would have raised his base pay to $1.3 million. RC was playing hard ball thinking that he didn't have any competition for Calipari's services, this belief came to bite him in the ass. NC State took a big bite of RC's ass, when they offered Cal $2.2 million to be the next Wolfpack coach. I don't blame Cal in this circumstance I blame RC Johnson because Cal's deal could have been done 2 weeks ago.

Act 2: NC State

2006-04-10T20:27:00.000-05:00

I am not going to set here and say that NC State is being a bit underhanded in thier pursuit of John Calipari. I will say this that NC State AD will no longer be welcome back here in Memphis. the good will that he built by be an assitant coach, under Dana Kirk, is over. So what do we know? Not much but rumors, such as the erroneous info Andy Katz was peddling today on ESPN.com. Cal did not fly to Raliegh today but then this is a minute detail. What the real issue is where are we going to get another high profile coach that can generate the brand awareness that Cal has done. I said, a couple of weeks ago, that Nolan Richardson would be a good choice but after thinking about it I was wrong. He is too old and doesn't bring the energy that Cal has. A good example of this is that Cal was a co host of the Best Damn Sports Show on Fox Sports. Nolan could never do this. We have crossed that line in which we can no longer look back. Memphis fans have always wanted respect and to truly be a national program. Cal has begun to take us there and we can't go back. If Cal leaves we have to find someone with as big a persona that he has created. Today there have been names thrown about that would be an insane choice suchh as Steve Lavin or Rick Majerus. Now if either one of these guys is hired I promise you that heads will roll. A.D. R.C. Johnson will lose his job and the program will take ten steps backward. The problem that we face is that it is a little late in the year to find a coach willing to leave thier program. If Cal leaves expect some of our recruits to decommit and for Darius and Shawne to goo pro. We won't be able to recover from this for a couple of years. I hope that the meeting that was held today, with the boosters, generated enough money to keep him here. The sad thing is that this could have all been avoided if R.C. didn't try and play hard ball. Thanks R.C. I hope that the coaching search goes smoothly because your every move will be under the microscope. I hope that you get it right because your job is truly on the line. Next time you want to play hard ball go to the batting cages.

The Hangover has Finally Worn Off!

2006-04-04T20:23:00.000-05:00

It has taken me week and a half to get over the Tigers loss to UCLA. I was so disappointed that I found it really hard to watch any more basketball after that game. I heard that the Gators won the National Championship last night but I maybe watched five minutes of it. I found, last nights, Yankee blowout more entertaining. With that said I would like to say a few words to Billy Packer. You are a pompose ass and it was given a strong kick in it when George Mason made the Final Four. They were one of the only reasons people tuned into the Final Four games. I better leave it at that because I feel my heartrate rising.

Well That Was Quick!

2006-03-28T20:26:00.000-06:00

I am not afraid to admit that I was wrong in terms of Coach Cal and Indiana. Coach Kelvin Sampson put the Calipari fire out real quick when he decided to leave Oklahoma for Indiana today. Next up is the rumors that Johnny C will be going to the Sooners. The one thing that is in our favor is that, today, John Calipari stated that as long as Memphis was fair then he will be here. So fans expect him to be the second highest paid coach, behind Patino, when the Tigers up his salary. Don't be surprised that his number will be somewhere around the two million mark. Hey Fred Smith do you mind throwing in another 500 grand, whats another half a million, you own FedEx.

Will He Stay or Will He Go? If so then Who will Come?

2006-03-27T19:05:00.000-06:00

Memphis fans,we could be coming to the end of the Calipari era. If rumors are "serious" then he could be the next coach at Indiana and where there is smoke there usually is fire, when it comes to coaches. Remeber when he was named the coach here? It was the same type of situation. I really like Calipari and think that he is a real asset to the program, in terms of national exposure, but if he does leave then we still have to get out of bed the next morning. The program will go on because it will have to considering that we want to have some hefty leverage for the next round of conference realignments. We can't afford to hire another up and coming coach and go through the disaster that we did with Tic Price. So who is out there that can come in and win with the players that we currently have? Well we will need a guy that will convince DWash and Shawne Williams in to staying one more year? Who is out there who believes in playing shut down defense and a up tempo offense? What coach is out there with a reputation of puting guys into the NBA? What coach has a history of winning? What coach has a reputation with the high school coaches in Memphis? What coach was once considered for the head coach job here? Well I am going to throw out an old name that some might scoff at but I say why not? How about Nolan Richardson? He is a better option than many of the coaches that would be mentioned for the job. We know what he once did and I wouldn't be concerned about his time off it certainly didn't hurt Dick Vermeal. While I am sure that many people will disagree but at least I am looking forward. So if you have a better idea then leave it in the comments section.

Jim Nance is a Crybaby!

2006-03-12T18:02:00.000-06:00

I have just finished watching Jim Nance cry about the fact that the small conference teams got into the tournament instead of the bigger schools from the "Power Conferences". His argument is that there hasn't been one of these teams to make it to the Sweet Sixteen rather it is the "Power Teams" that are there. So why should we allow these teams into the tournament when Jim knows for a fact that they won't be standing after two games? Well Jim, the basketball tournament is not the BCS and TV and sponsers can't dictate who can and can't come to the dance. To get mad about this and treat selection committee, Craig Littlepage, the way that you did just proves what a dick you really are. We sit and listen to you ruin just about every sporting event with your fluffy gay language and cliches but now we will have to sit and listen to it for the next three weeks. I wish I had a death ray that could travel through the TV because buddy you and that fat wind bag, Billy Packard, would be the first to go. So go home take out your tampon and have a good cry over the big conferences not getting more schools into the tournament, you Douchebag!

Call Me Crazy

2006-03-07T20:24:00.000-06:00

Is it me or does the current NFL situation seem like two little kids fighting. Think about two little boys, who are about to fight, but both are too affraid to throw the first punch. So one of them draws a line in the dirt and tells the other that if he crosses then the fight is on. So the boy crosses the line and the other boy draws another and tells him that if he crosses that line then the fight is on. This last for an hour, until they both forget what they were going to fight over; so they decide that they make better friends than enemies so they make up. This is what I see the current relationship between the NFL and the Players Association. The Players Association, or should I say Gene Upshaw, has too much to lose by not making a deal because a number of his constituents stand to lose big time with the pending cuts do to the salary cap not be increased. These players will not be resigned to long term contracts because of the instability of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. So folks don't be surprised to see an agreement signed soon because the Players could loose alot.

Can a Loss Be Good, I say Yes.

2006-03-03T18:28:00.000-06:00

Last thursday night the 3rd ranked Memphis Tigers lost to UAB. With this came the break down of every aspect of thursday nights game by the Memphis media. The only thing that I didn't hear mentioned was that maybe this loss was a good thing. The Tigers were on a 15 game winning streak with Texas being their last loss. Since that loss they have rolled over the wealk competition in CUSA and have begun to take winning for granted. The team has become arrogant, which is evident by their play on the court and the commnets that some of the players have made to the media. So they needed to lose thursday night to wake them up and prove to them that they need to bring it no matter who they are playing be it Duke or UAB. Ask the '05 Colts, the '04 Steelers or the '05 Cardinals where they went wrong?

Can You Feel it Folks?

2006-03-02T20:05:00.000-06:00

If people outside of the South want to know how passionate Southerners are about their football all they have to do is look at the festivities surrounding spring practice. Now I am not trying to say that fans will turn out like they do for the regular season but they do turn out. Last year the University of Memphis had close to ten thousand for the spring game; this is a school that couldn't draw ten thousand fans, on a good day, ten years ago. Look at how many showed up for the South Carolina spring game last year. Hell they even put the game on ESPN 2, now that is saying some. Maybe that they were searching for content but that is another story. So when the rest of the country is trying to stay warm, the 1st two weeks of April, Southerns will be basking in the sun watching some football and drinking a cold one. Well this should help us make it to August when fall practice begins.

The Battle For The NFL

2006-02-27T20:05:00.000-06:00

The current fight between the owners could bring the NFL's run of success on and off the field to an end. Now I generally consider myself a capitailist but in this case I beleive that the big market teams might need to take one for the team. The current battle centers on the amount of money that the teams that market themselves against the teams that don't invest much in their product, i.e the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is the belief of the large market teams that they work and invest in the marketing of their brand and therefore should be allowed to keep a larger portion of the shared revenue, which is the American way. Now I lean in this direction somewhat because I know how much that Jerry Jones invests in his brand but there would be no brand if there is a lockout or shut down of play. Unlike European soccer teams, NFL teams have no other competition than themselves; the large market teams rely heavily on the small market teams to generate their income, i.e ticket sales and tv ratings.So what this current debate really boils down to is a battle between socialism vs capitailism. The purest form of marxism is practiced by the NFL and that is why the NFL works. So if the large market teams want to keep generating the money that they do then they might have to be the ones to give a little, if not they run the risk of being the next NHL or MLB.

Tough Times!

2006-02-13T19:35:00.000-06:00

The period of the year that I like to call the winter of my discontent period has started. While I have been weened off of football slowly, I am beginning to go through withdrawl. In the past I have tried to substitute the Arena League but it's just not the same. It is like trying too substitute trail mix for M&M's. While trail mix is okay some of the time M&M's are awsome all of the time. I am a traditionalist when it comes to my sports. While the AFL, CFL, and XFL have and have had there place in the sports marketplace, there is no substitute for the real thing. There is no substitute for gameday in the South. The tailgating, frat boys in ties, travel bottles of Jack and Jim, the sense of community at a game, rivalries, the cheerleaders and bands, the color, and the smell of the grills in the parking lot. You can't find this anywhere else. Baseball doesn't have this, basketball doesn't have this and hockey will never have this.

There is no substitute for the physical ballet that is the NFL. While basketball has the dunk it will never have the beauty of a hand handed catch by Brandon Loyd, Barry Sanders ability to stop on a dime and change directions, watching Roy Williams hit someone, or watching Michael Vick, aka Ron Mexico, break one for a TD. There is no substitute for these types of experiences. With that said I guess I will be catching up on some reading but only after the Memphis Tigers basketball season is over.

That Was The Super Bowl?

2006-02-06T18:57:00.000-06:00

If last night's game was meant to highlight the best that the NFL had to offer, then it missed it's mark. I am a die hard NFL fan and researcher and I found last night's game to be almost unbearable. First Aaron Neville and Areatha Franklin have lost their voice. I hate to say, because I really like the Neville Brothers, but that National Anthem was reallty bad as well as being an omen of things to come. The refs' calls were alittle off and they added to the idea that the game was rigged. I don't believe this but a jaded person could be convinced that this was true. I have heard mixed reviews about the Stones performance but: 1) they are in their sixties and 2) they are the Stones so who cares, they rock. I heard much commentary, on the commercials, from women today and they were not impressed. I didn't care because I don't care about the commercials. The networks steal money from these corporations. Steal! Companies pay $2 million dollars for a 30 second spot and the viewership of the Super Bowl is decreasing. I can see why the viewership is in decline after yesterday's game. In terms of the play on the field the game was boring. I had to fight my inner self not to channel surf. Three or four big plays and 56 minutes of watching grass grow. I tell who should have been the MVP, the punters: Tom Rouhen and Chris Gardocki. I swear the announcers were searching for things to talk about. Did you know that Gardocki has never had a punt blocked? Well that was what things boiled down to last night, talking about the career of a punter during the Super Bowl. The season went out on a whimper instead of a bang unless you like the Steelers and their style of play.

The Super Bowl, Do Fans Care?

2006-02-05T15:30:00.000-06:00

Before I start this post I want to say that I hate all of the commentary about the Super Bowl commercials. I have heard almost as much about the commercials than I have about the actual game, with the outcome being talked about ad nassium. It is everywhere CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC. Hell I wouldn't be surprised if the Disney Channel didn't have pundents discussing the Super Bowl ads. Now I would watch Goofy tell us his opinion of the GODaddy.com ad, that would make good tv.

With this said, this year's Super Bowl just doesn't have the excitement that the last 39 have had, maybe it is the fact that it is in Detroit. The media has been trying to create storylines but no matter how much Joey Porter talks it just isn't going to happen. The Seahawks and the Steelers, a little boring to the average fan and I doubt these teams deserve the hype that they have been given. Or in the Seahawks case maybe not enough. I can't remember a team that has been given less hype than the Seahawks. People think that the because that Jerome Bettis is playing in his hometown, the Steelers will win. What a lame storyline! This has been the drama of this years Super Bowl, The Bus being sent to the scrap heap in Detroit. I don't care how many times the media pushes this people don't care. He might be the 5th best running back in the NFL history, he hasn't had the national following that the other 4 have had. Emmitt, Payton, Jim Brown, or even Curtis Martin. These guys played in the Super Bowl earlier in their careers and were afforded the luxury of building upon their reputations over a longer period while it has taken Bettis till potentially his last game to get to this stage. Some people might say that this creates a greater storyline line but he is not the player that he once was. Now you could say this if he rushes for 3 td's and 200 yards but the likelyhood of that happening is pretty slim.

As to who I am rooting for today I am going with the Seahawks because they are the NFC representative and because they are the underdog but I am doing this because I feel I should root for one of these teams.

By the way that is the worst National Anthem I have heard since Carl Lewis. Shame on you NFL.

Tomarrow Is A Big Day

2006-01-31T19:49:00.000-06:00

Well folks tomarrow marks the day in which alumni set with baited breath as high schools senior football players make their final choice of the school they will attend. I rank recruiting right up there with fantasy football in terms of total waste of time. Before I go on I have to say that I find myself following recruiting just like most alumni do but I also recognize that it is unrealistic to expect these players to be the next superstars of college football. While recruiting is a big part of the game and it extends the excitement of college football into Febuary, once these players step onto campus they will have to produce. While this expectation is held by many alumni it is not always the case. What we tend to forget is, while these kids are talented, they are still kids who act like kids. There are many examples of highly recruited athletes that have fizzled out once they stepped on campus and all Memphis fans have to do is look at the basketball roster throughout the 1990's. You could have the number 1 recruiting class in the nation but if you don't have a good coach than the recruiting means nothing. A perfect example of this is Gerry Dinardo. When he was at LSU he had a couple of #1 recruiting classes but where is he today? Fired from LSU and Indiana he now works for ESPN Radio. So here is a note to all those Ole Miss fans who believe that they are on track to be a national champion contender because someone rated their recruiting class #13, look south and ask yourself "Where is Gerry Dinardo?"

Can Men Be Men?

2006-01-26T19:15:00.000-06:00

In today's society there is a growing debate concerning issues of masculinity and men. This was reinforced this week with Newsweek's cover article titled The Boy Crisis. The article focuses on the problems that boys are experiencing today in terms of socialization, education, as well as behavior issues. The article compares the problems that boys experience versus the problems girls face. This issue touches on an idea that I have been thinking about for a while now and that deals with the social problems that men experience and the popularity of college and professional sports. I believe that the reason that the reason that viewership and attendance to sporting events has increased is due to the fact that sports is a safe vehicle for men to be men.

Wherever you turn today men are being told how to dress, how to act, how we need to be more caring and nurturing, and how we need to be more emotional and sensitive. Media entities have grasped on to this notion and run with. Men's magazines tell us that we need to have six pack abs to attract women. Queer Eye For the Straight Guy tells us that we can't dress, we don't know how to style our hair, we need to wax our eyebrows, we need to organize our spaces just so, and we need to have the right wine to go with the Pate that we need to serve to our dates. Today's modern man needs to be an androgenous metrosexual much like that big toothed entertainment reporter Stephen CojoCaru. We are to be feminine and reject much of our masculine traits. So where is the last refuge for men? You either hunt or you can lose yourself in sports. There is a comfort zone in the world of sports. Sports bars and arenas are safe havens for men in which we don't have to care about all of this stuff. We can go to a game with our buddies drink beer, dip, spit, cuss, eat all the red meat that we want, take our shirts off, yell, and be as roudy as we can without going to jail. It is acceptable and we don't have to worry about what people think because the majority people, in the arenas, are other men. Sporting arenas are also an acceptable place for men to cry. It is not acceptable to cry at funerals, weddings, the birth of a child but it is ok to cry when your team has just won the Super Bowl or the National Championship. Hell it is a source of pride because you are more of a fan when it means that much to you.

Sporting events are where fathers and sons bond, where male freindships are built, and where men are comfortable being free. I know that there will be people who disagree with me but if you sit down and apply this idea to your own life, you will see that there is some truth to what I say; that is unless your are a woman then forget everything you just read.

The Two Man Line and Joe Lee

2006-01-23T19:24:00.000-06:00

Memphis fans know what I am talking about when I talk about the two man defensive line. This year, due to the number of injuries, the Memphis Tigers started playing a two man defensive line. We had two tackles play inside and the linebackers would come up were the ends would play. Now why am I talking about this? During the playoffs I have noticed that the Steelers have played this front before them the Patriots palyed this front as well. This is the first time that I can remember seeing this front played in the NFL but the Tigers played this at times last year. Now could the Memphis coaching staff be innovative enough to be impacting the game of football as a whole? I think it is pretty cool that the pros are copying colleges again.

For those of you who have been living under a rock, today we moved up to number 3.

Who will the NFL be rooting for?

2006-01-16T17:56:00.000-06:00

This question is a good one considering that the NFL needs the Steelers and the Seahawks to play in the Super Bowl. Why? They will need viewers in order to maintain the ad rate that they are currently receiving. The Steelers bring a large national fan base, something the other three don't have. What Seattle has is a marketable player in Shawn Alexander, The NFL MVP. While the Broncos have a following it is nothing compared to what the Steelers. The Panthers have been to the Super Bowl but they do not have the national following or the appeal for the novice fan who watches the NFL sporadically. This year's game while not reach the numbers of previous decades or even come close to Super Bowl XXX, when the Cowboys beat the Steelers.

What will be sad is if the commercials outshine the play on the feild and the NFL cannot afford that because viewers while tune out and the broadcast will lose out. We can't have the game that we did last year but we can only hope that we don't return to the days of the massive blowouts.

What happened to Indy? Up until yesterday I thought I had seen both of Peyton Manning's tank jobs, the 2000 divisional and 1996 game against Memphis but yesterday he just flat out did not show up niether did Marvin Harrison. I hated Peyton in college but love to watch in the NFL and I kind of felt sorry for him until he began to blaim his line. While it was true he should have kept his mouth shut. Oh, I wonder how he feels about that stupid kicker? One name comes to mind Scott Norwood.

So much for the Bears vaunted defense. God, I truly hate Steve Smith and I am not a Bears Fan.

The only joy that I had, watching football, was watching the Redskins lose. As long as I live I will never, and I mean never, root for the Redskins, Yankees, or the UT Volunteers. I don't care if Jesus Christ himself played for these teams, I'd still would root for the opposing team.

Writers Block

2006-01-10T19:38:00.000-06:00

I am currently struggling to find my wit and wisdom from which my posts come, therefore I have decided to add a little wit and wisdom from other people.

Violence, in its many forms, is an involuntary quest for identity. When our identity is in danger, we feel certain that we have a mandate for war. Marshall McLuhan, War and Peace in the Global Village

I've known women who thought football was worthless and brutal. But they just don't understand the nature of the male. Most of those big time collisions don't really hurt. The players are dressed and protected. They are young and strong. Anyway, the fact is that young men enjoy it. Nothing is going to stop it. If we could just have a Super Bowl between Russia and the United States, instead of all those tanks and ballistic missiles, things would be alot better. Paul Brown

Jonesing for a Game, Man!

2006-01-09T19:54:00.000-06:00

I am sorry that I haven't written in awhile I have been going through detox and I have been having football dts. This is always a sad time for me because I go from engrossing myself in football every day of the week to a few games on the weekend and finally to nothing. The NFL playoffs have been anticlimatic and I have yet to get excited about them. I pray that next weekends games are better than this past ones. These past games can't be fairly judge anyway because we had a week of some really great bowl games and anything and the NFL truly had a hard time competing with the bowls. Well anyway I am off to find a fix either in a book aboout football or tapes of old games.

What Happened To the Greatest College Football Team of All Time?

2006-01-05T18:51:00.000-06:00

This is what happens when the you count your chickens before they hatch, sometimes they don't hatch. That is what happened last night when USC lost to Texas. The Longhorns wheren't given much of a chance because they were going up against the Greatest College Team of All Time. How could USC loose? I will tell you how play a team with a defense that is fast and hard hitting. They play a team that isn't intimidated by the Trojans and who are willing and able to go toe to toe with them. They play a team who truly has the best player in the country and who has a chip on his shoulder. I just wish that next years greatest team of all time actually lives up to the hype. Oh and we saw why Reggie Bush won't be the superstar that he is hyped. As was shown last night you can rattle his cage when you hit him and neutralize his speed.

Hey Everybody I am a Communist!

2005-12-29T17:43:00.000-06:00

I recently received this comment to the post I wrote about the suicide of Tony Dungy's son, James. I have been trying to think of a way to respond to someone calling me a communist because anyone who knows me can state that I am anything but a communist. I find it interesting, though, that someone felt so strongly, about what I wrote, that they resorted to name calling and questioning my intellectual capacity. While it is true that I only finished the 3rd grade he didn't have to go and call me a communist. So before I go any further I want you to read what anonymous wrote, in response to my post:

"When the media reports on a death, yes, it is important to report the cause. What are they suppose to say, "sorry, but the coroners office told us cause of death, but we're not going to pass that information on to our viewers, even though thats our job." The kid killed himself, hate to break it to you, but that does qualify as news. I for one dont want my news censored because it my hurt someones feelings. Give us the truth. Nothing more, nothing less. I think your post might be the dumbest thing Ive ever read in my life. With all the things wrong with ESPN, reporting on a cause of death is not one of them. If you don't like freedom of the press, China is always looking for some cheap labor in their gulags".

I say that the media should leave the Dungy family alone and I suddendly become dumb and someone who doesn't beleive in the 1st amendment. In today's society if you have a different opinion on a subject, people feel it necessary to resort to name calling and character assination. I guess that the days of intellectual debates are over? The zeitgeist of the times calls for people to be lumped into groups and pigeon holed into certain beliefs. People from the South are no longer Southerners, we are Red Staters. As if every Southerner is a Republican. If you believe in God than you a Religous Right Wing Zealot. And if you are a Sourtherner, who is religous, then you are a Southern Right Wing Republican who voted for Charleston Heston as your President, because don't you know all Southerners own guns (Another Favorite). We are not free thinking adults we have become labels. Labels that have been conveinently defined by popular media outlets, who need content to fill the pages and airwaves that we consume only a daily basis. And this is why I feel that the media outlets should leave Tony Dungy and his family alone. Content! ESPN does not have to rely on another TO story because now they can dig into every minute detail of James Dungy's life. I watched yesterday, ESPN made James Dungy's funeral into star watch. Who was at the funeral? How will this effect the Colts chances of winning the Super Bowl? How will this effect Peyton's ability to read a defense? Lets go to Sal Palintonio to see how this will effect Marvin Harrison's ability to fart. It wasn't about James or Tony Dungy and the issues that caused this tragedy it was about Warren Sap, Herm Edwards et al who showed up to the church. This is what I have a problem with because ESPN is going to milk this through the Playoffs but they will be nowhere to be found 20 years from now when Tony Dungy is tromented by the thoughts that he could have done more for his son. But they don't have a problem taking advantage of someone's death in order to fill air time but what do I know all I want to do is piss on the Constitution because I am a Communist. Well I am off to buy my Che Guevera shirt, a copy of Marx's Communist Manifesto, a sickle and sledgehammer, and a one way ticket to China. Talk to you later Comrads.

Does It Get Any Better Than This?

2005-12-27T20:16:00.000-06:00

Since I have been a Memphis Tiger fan I can't remember two better days than these past two. Yesterday we won our second bowl game in three years in which Deangelo had one of his average games in which he only rushes for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns and tonight the basketball team comes from behind to beat #8 Gonzaga by 11. For a program that is trying to position itself to get in a BCS conference in 2008 we are doing some good things. The TV exposure alone has been priceless.

Tony Dungy

2005-12-22T19:30:00.000-06:00

I just read an article that dealt with the death of Tony Dungy's son. I really feel for him because of his loss and I hope that ESPN and other media outlets leave him alone. This is not a time to park a reporter in Tampa and in Indy watching the every movement of the Dungy family. Let this family greave in peace. It is not a story that sports fans or celebrity watchers need to know, it is a personal issue. When I saw this story I was a little shocked because the media is so quick to report that it was an apperant suicide. Have they no shame? Is this really something we need to know? Couldn't they have just reported that he died and been done with it? In reporting that it was a suicide, it makes things worse for the family because the parents feel even more responsible for the death of their child . They are going blame themselves because they will think that there was more they could have done or they should have noticed that something was wrong. With the media coverage these emotions will only be intesified because of the attention that the story has been given and will receive. I wish that the executives, at the media outlets that are reporting this, lived under the same microscope that athletes and coaches operate, maybe then they would see that somethings should be off limits. As a society have we no shame?

Well Folks We are #4!

2005-12-20T20:15:00.000-06:00

The last time the Memphis Tigers were ranked in the top 5 was in 1996. Thanks to one of our most hated rivals , Loserville, the Tigers moved to #4. I would like to thank the University of Kentucky for beating Loserville saturday. Go Big Blue!

Why Is ESPN Trying To Sell Me Madden 2006?

2005-12-16T17:55:00.000-06:00

I was flipping through the channels the other day and came upon a show,on ESPN, that centered on guys playing Madden 2006 while wearing certain players NFL jersey. This has to be the most blatant scam I have seen in a while. All this show was a a more stylized version of the infommercials that come on late at night. The problem that I have is that ESPN tried to pawn this off as entertainment as oppossed to a commercial. The whole purpose of this show is to sell video games, much like the And 1 Mix Tour and tapes are meant to promote the shoe brand. How dumb do the ESPN executives think that we, as viewers, are? As consumers become tried of the constant barrage of advertisements companies are looking for new and creative ways to sell thier products. Hence the creation of the Madden 2006 competition show. I would really like to see the Neilson ratings for this show. I truly wonder if there were people who fell for this show?

New segment

2005-12-13T20:53:00.000-06:00

I will be adding a new segment to my blog, in the upcoming weeks. I plan to interview sports business professionals, in order to help those that are thinking about making it a career. I want people to understabd what they are getting into before they get thier hopes up and then have the dashed that working in the sports field is not what they thought. Now I have made it my career but I was a bit naive when I started graduate school thinking it was going to be fame and fortune. I am trying to counteract stories people see played out on TV and the movies, i.e. Jerry Maguire. He is a character in a movies and he is pure fantasy. Now I had some really great professors who taught me alot but your education while only get you so far. That is why I have decided to do this so people don't make thier decision blindly. So if there are any questions or certain fields/specialties you want explored please leave a comment and I will do my best to get you an answer.

Deangelo Update

2005-12-13T20:47:00.000-06:00

In the last week Deangelo has been named to the Walter Camp 1st team All American Team and today he was named to the AP 2nd team All American team. While I am still disappointed that he didn't win the Doak Walker Award, he is being recognized for his acheivements by others.

BCS Bias

2005-12-09T08:56:00.000-06:00

Last night I was disappointed that Deangelo Williams didn't win the Doak Walker Award but such is life. After thinking about the award I have come to the conclusion that the Non-BCS schools should create their own seperate league that could be comparable to Division 1 AA. In this league you would have the WAC, The Mountain West, CUSA, the MAC, and the Big Sky conferences. You would play all of your non-conference games against these teams and you could compete for the Non-BCS national championship. In doing this you could also have a playoff system that would lead to the champion being crowned. You can use the bowls as playoff sights and have the championship played in a warm climate city. This would only hold true for football because there are a few of these schools could compete for a national championship in basketball. In doing this you can invigorate the programs by creating a viable incentive to play for. If the BCS won't let us in maybe it is time to create a new system. There are the haves and the have nots, and non-BCS schools are the have nots so maybe this system will change that image that these schools have.

Memphis and the Graduation Rate

2005-12-08T11:09:00.000-06:00

Well I some good news and bad news Memphis fans. The Memphis Football team ranks in the top ten in graduating football players but the bad news the graduation rate of the overall student body. I have to say that I am trully embaressed, as an Alumni of the Uof M, that Memphis only graduates 33% of the overall student body. I repeat 33%. 1 out of every three students attending Memphis will graduate. To me this is mind boggling. What is going on that they cannot graduate more people? I truely am afraid what I will find if I dig any deeper.

BCS and collusion

2005-12-08T10:19:00.000-06:00

To say that the BCS system is unfair is a understatement. There are 117 D1 college football programs and a majority of them do not have a chance to play in a BCS bowl before a game is even played. Last year was a beautiful sight when Utah crashed the party and won the Fiesta Bowl but that was a once in a while occurrence. The big six BCS conferences have colluded to keep the "smaller" conferences out of the BCS picture. It is a situation of the haves and the have nots.The have nots have their bowl ties ins and the haves have the national championship, as well as the money that goes along with it. The way it is now we will not have programs like Miami or Florida State, teams that built a program from nothing and have become BCS powers. The BCS has made provisions for "smaller" schools to be able to play into the the bowl picture but it is not enough. What is enough is that BCS schools can schedule the smaller schools, as non conference games, beat them and leave. Every so often you have surprises such as UT-Memphis(1996) and Southern Miss-Nebraska (2004). What is the choice the non-BCS schools have but to play along because they need the buy games to support thier athletic budgets? So here is a compromise, allow the smaller schools to have thier bowl games and allow the BCS schools to have the playoffs. It is not like the smaller schools are even going to considered for the playoff in the first place, so think outside of the box. I see this as a win/win situation where everyone wins.

Memphis's Bowl Game

2005-12-04T17:20:00.000-06:00

It looks like the Tigers are going to play another MAC team but instead of Mobile it will be played in the US's favorite tourist destination, Detroit.
That's right the Tigers will play the Akron Zips, on December 26 at 3pm, at Ford Field. So Tiger fans get out your shorts, beach towels, and hand guns because we are going to Detroit, Michigan.

Trite Language

2005-12-04T16:27:00.000-06:00

I have had it with these half-wit football announcers and their language. I have to believe that their is either a book or a school that these sports announcers have access to because they all use the same trite language. Where are the modern day Grantland Rices? Why have networks dumbed down sports broadcasts to extent that a flee would feel smarter than the sports announcers? It amazes me that pundits say that US citizens are becoming smarter but our entertainment outputs are absolutely mind numbing. The sad thing is there is a trickle down effect in terms of sports presentation. It flows from the top. National broadcasters to local sports talk radio hosts. There is no end to absolute simple analysis being delivered by simple people. Here are some of the phrases that make wish that music would be played rather than having announcers:
Barn Burner
Duck( meaning a bad pass)
Call Off the Dogs
Get on a Roll
Any type of BCS debate
Frozen Rope
Clicking on All Cylinders
Trickeration/Tickery : There is no such thing as a trick play
Physicality
Big body/Big Boy/Big Fella
Good Hustle
Take It To Them
HeartBreaker
Battle In the Trenches
Quit Giving Up So Many Big Plays
Well Covered
Feel free to participate.

Deangelo Update

2005-12-04T11:33:00.000-06:00

This week Deangelo Williams garnered two more awards when he was named CUSA Offensive Player of the Year for the 3rd time and he was named to the AFCA ALL-American Team with Reggie Bush sharing the backfield with him. Deangelo is the 1st player from Memphis to be named to this team. While we know that he isn't going to win the Heisman it is the hope, of all Memphis Fans, that he get invited to New York for the ceremony. While he won't win the Heisman he is in the running for the Doak Walker Award, which he is one of two backs that will win it, Reggie Bush being the other. We will keep our fingers crossed.

Liberty Bowl

2005-12-04T10:50:00.000-06:00

Well folks we well not have a marquee matchup in the Liberty Bowl like the one we had last year. Boise State vs. Louisville was a great matchup but this year we have Fresno State vs. Tulsa, two teams that met when they were in the WAC. Ah, let me rush out and buy my tickets now because I want to see this match up. I want to see a team that brings a three game losing streak, Fresno State, play Tulsa, whose star player is a Tight End. Now you will never hear me say that Memphis should be in the Liberty Bowl this year but I believe that they jumped the gun when they invited Fresno State. Since they were invited, Fresno has lost to Nevada(38-35) and LaTech (40-28), this does not bode well for the City of Memphis or the Liberty Bowl in terms of fans and visitors to the city. Think about it you have two teams that will have to travel from Oklahoma and California and neither of these teams draw well at home. Fresno averages 39,307 and Tulsa averages 22,826.The Memphis Tigers drew 23,000 when they were consistent losers. So for the fan, who does not have a rooting interest in these teams what is the draw? Neither of these teams have ever had a following here or a true national following, so why were they chosen? Tulsa was chosen because of the CUSA contract but couldn't they have waited to choose another team to play Tulsa? Last year the Liberty Bowl drew a record crowd and it is yet to be seen what type of interest this year match up will generate. I know one thing is for sure they will not even come close to last year's crowd when Boise and Louisville played.

Unbelievable

2005-12-03T11:29:00.000-06:00

Dixie Carter, a fellow Memphis alumn, once said that "In the South We Don't Hide Our Crazies, We Bring Them Out of the Closet For Everyone to See." Well ladies and gentlemen I want to introduce you to one of our crazies, Phyllis from Mulga. I came to know Phyllis via a link on Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer blog. Phyllis is a character that frequently calls the Paul Finebaum radio show, which is out of Birmingham Alabama. I have to say that she is truly one passionate lady in terms of her hate for Phil Fulmer and her love of Bama football. So folks if you want to know how people in the South feel about their football, then you need to click on the link and listen to Phyliss. I have to say is that this is some really good radio.

An Important Rivalry

2005-12-02T21:21:00.000-06:00

In my family the Army-Navy game has always been an important event because of my family's involvement in serving the country in the Naval Services. Growing up in a Navy family and on a Naval base I have a really hard time rooting Army, under any circumstances. Rooting for Army would rank right up there with rooting for the Russians. When the game is over Army is okay but while it is being played I just can't say anything nice about them.

All kidding aside, tomarrow's game is what college athletics once were. The Army/Navy game is an example of what college football was once in terms of the pangentry, the importance, the athletes, and the amateurism; all things that are slowly disappearing from the other 100 plus Division 1 A football programs. Tomarrow's game is about something more than TV ratings, merchandise sales, bowl games, or butts in the seats, it is about pride. While there hasn't been a truly relevant Army/Navy since Staubach, in terms of a National Champion, the one constant has always been pride. These men aren't playing for the scouts and many of them will never play football game again. They are playing for each other and for you, the citizens of the US. So tomarrow you will hear one chant at my house "Go Navy beat Army!"

Fulmer Apologizes

2005-11-29T21:01:00.000-06:00

Today Phil Fulmer sent an email apologizing for the 5-6 season that the Vols finished with.

"I assure you that no one is happy about our season - especially me, and I know that our fans deserve better than what we produced this year."

The problem with this apology is that he does not apologize for the off the field incidents that took place during the off season. How many of his players were arrested? How many of them left the program? No matter what you say or how you try to spin it their season was lost in the spring and summer. You cannot have that much controversy and it not affect your team. So he can apologize for the Vols record all he wants but until the off the field issues are dealt with nothing will change.

Apologize, only at Tennessee!

Fuel For The Fire

2005-11-29T18:32:00.000-06:00

Today the blog Everyday Should Be Saturday wrote a peice that delved into the problems surrounding ESPN, today. Well I recently came across an article in Fast Company Magazine that deals with ESPN's marketing. I had been saving this for a companion to what I wrote about ESPN a couple of weeks ago. Since we currently have a wave of change I decided to post it today.

Fast Company's August 2004 issue, page 41. Interview of Lee Ann Daly, Executive Vice President, Marketing ESPN Inc.

We take sportsvery seriously, but we don't take ourselves very seriously. That goes back to ESPN's roots. Our founders were bohemian sports fans in the same way that poets and pianters and jazz musicians believe in what they're doing in a passionate way. They really just wanted to create a 24-hours sports, news, and information network to share with other fans.

Although ESPN has grown into 40 different businesses [ 25 television networks globally, a radio network, a magazine, ownership of the professional bass-fishing and extreme sports tourneys, a chain of sports bar/resturants, etc.], what hasn't changed is our conversation with fans. It's almost like a club. So all of these extensions of the original ESPN must serve our relationship with each fan. When we expand, the most important thing to me is whether we can transform the business that we go into by better serving the fan. If it doesn't, you'll make money for 10 minutes, and then the fan will be disappointed and you won't be making any more money.

I think it's very difficult to put up with us if you don't love sports. What I'm talking about is a fundamental respect and understanding for just how important sports are in people's lives. Even though many people don't consider themselves to be sports fans. when you delve a little beneath the surface, most people are. To some degree, I don't think you can call yourself an American if you're not a sports fan.

This just points out how clueless that the executives at ESPN truely are. They truely have taken their viewers for granted. Compare and contrast her version and what has been written on EDSBS.

Deangelo Williams

2005-11-29T09:06:00.000-06:00

I would like to begin this by saying thank you to Deangelo Williams. When I started at Memphis State, in 1992, the football program was a mediocre 6-5 and followed up that season with two more 6-5 seasons. Now these teams were severe underacheivers due to the fact that there were 10 players, off that team, that went on to play in either the CFL or NFL and one of those players was Isaac Bruce. Well after that last 6-5 season they fired Chuck Stobart and we didn't see a winning season until you came along. We had 1 big win beating #6 ranked Tennessee, who had Peyton, in 1996 but beside this things were extremely bleak. Bleak, meaning 10,000 fans a game bleak. Bleak meaning people began to say "Well there is always basketball season" after the second football game bleak. Now I know that you are one player on the team and that there are many people who are responsible for the success that has happened in the last 4 years but you were a major player. You have generated enormous publicity for the school and the football program, due to your play on the field. You have lit the spark on a dying football program. You have given Memphis fans something that they have been longing for and that is pride. We, as fans, can now say that we to have a football team. We no longer have to listen to Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Tennessee fans put our program down. And for the first time in history Memphis is going to a bowl and those three schools aren't. We no longer have to set and watch SEC teams come into Memphis and raid the talent pool because we are now competing for those players. We no longer have to say that we are a basketball school because now we have two successful programs.

So as I was watching the clock tic down to zero on Saturday, I became very sad because I knew that I would not get the chance to watch you play in the Liberty Bowl again. In a small way this is what parents go through when their children go off to college. You watch someone grow and succeed and then it is time for them to move onto bigger and better challenges. It is bittersweet to say the least but I have plenty of good memories of watching you play. So with this said, I hope that you acheive all your hopes and dreams because you have helped many Tiger fans fulfill theirs.

Ladies and Gentlemen....

2005-11-26T21:55:00.000-06:00

It is with great pleasure to be able to sit here and write something that makes feel all tingley inside. The University of Memphis has finished the season going to it's 3rd straight bowl and they have a better record than the University of Tennessee, that mighty football power to the East of Memphis. I have waited 13 years to be able to say that and it has finally arrived with great joy.

UT, a school with a truck load of blue chippers, finished the season 5-6 after starting the season #3 in the country. It really goes to show you that Karma works. Their arrogance has finally caught up with them and has made it clear that you need more than talent to win at football. To win at football you need chamraderie, luck, heart, and a work ethic. It became very clear before the season started, up on the hill, that these were missing. UT fans saw a program run amuck with countless behavior problems and a coach who failed to take control.Therefore no one should be surprised that the Vols finished the season as they did.

While Memphis finished the season 6-5, they didn't give up. They had four different quaterbacks, they lost the majority of their defensive line ( ending the season playing a two man d line), they lost 16 starters to injury, and they had to go from a passing team to a running team to fit quaterback Maurice Avery, who was a converted wide receiver. They had every opportunity to quit and no one would have blamed them if they had but the kept fighting. They wouldn't allow themselves to feel sorry for themselves. They walked on the feild with head up and played as if they had their full compliment of players. They adopted their coaches never say die menatlity and the they played like a team. A team that will forever be remembered by it fans, not for it's record for how they played the game: with heart.

I know I speak for all Tiger fans when I say Thank You. Thank You for making us proud to say that we went to Memphis. Thank You for being good citizens. Thank You for bringing a 3rd straight bowl to a program who had only been to 2 in it's 90 year history. Thank You for giving us great memories. And finally thank you for never quiting.

It's over it's finally over!

2005-11-23T13:32:00.000-06:00

Today the arbirtrator upheld the suspension of Terrell Owens, and it couldn't have come soon enough. Now maybe the media will focus in on what is really happening on the feild in the NFL. Since the season started it has been TO overload and it has been non-stop. I know that it will be more TO this upcoming weekend but lets hope that the insanity will stop there. Gives us a little break would you, because as soon as the free agent signing period starts it will be TO watch again. The more that he is talked about, in the media, the more his ego is stroked and he has an outlet to act the way that he does.

The good thing that came from this is that the owners and the league have taken control and said that they were not going to allow one man disrupt the whole league. The league by far is bigger than one player and that is why the NFL is so successful. It doesn't put the spotlight on one player, i.e. Michael Jordan and the NBA, rather they havedeciced to keep things organic and moving forward. You are not going to see a decline in ratings and interest when one player retires, like they saw in the NBA after Jordan. Look how long it has taken the NBA to regenerate itself. They are a players league and the NFL is a team and organization league. It is about the team not the player. That is why today's ruling is so important for the NFL. In ruling the way in which he did, the arbirtrator made a statement to the NFL players: You will not hold the NFL and the teams hostage, so you can get your way.

TO failed to realize that he signed a contract and in the US if you sign a contract, then you have to live by it. If I sign a contract I have to live by it and I am not afforded the same lee-way that he has, because he can catch a ball. Maybe TO learned a few lessons today, one don't hire Drew Rosenhouse as your agent and two when you sign your name to a contract you have to honer because that is what being a man is about. What am I crazy? I am sorry I just had a momentary lapse in thinking. We are talking about the man nicknamed Me O.

It is time for a change!

2005-11-17T19:26:00.000-06:00

Lately I have been seeing commentary on the web on the poor quality of ESPN, and I believe that it is time to slay the dragon that is ESPN. This notion was solidified in my brain when I noticed that they have begun to create events and pawn them off as sports news. What am I talking about exactly? Steve Phillips. Steve Phillips acting as the general manager of the Chicago Cubs during a fake news conference. To me this is akin to Will Ferrell, pretending to be George Bush, talking about foriegn affairs. What does Steve Phillips know about what will happen with the Cubs? Does ESPN believe that there are Chicago fans setting at home waiting to hear what is going to happen in the off season? To me this is ESPN's attempt to create entertainment, and disguise it as real news. It is not bad enough that we have to put up with the "news anchors", and I use this term very losely, shitck but now we have to suffer through this unbarable programing. It they had a true solid competitor we would not be seeing the things that we see on the channel that are currently there. I love that they have college football on all day on saturday and I love the majority of the college basketball coverage but these to, have serious problems. When Dick Vitale is talking, not yelling about, basketball he is tolerable but when he gets into his act it is like watching a clown at the circus. Another issue that I have are the brain dead announcers that have bastardized the English language. If I hear the word trickeration one more time, I will be at the local Wal Mart buying a new TV the next day. How about when they say intercept instead of interception? To me these guys are all trying to be different and they are so uncreative that they copy each other. What happened to the days when it was about the game instead of the announcers. It has taken me two decades to finally agree with Howard Coselland and his criticisms of former athlete sports announcers, i.e. Don Meredith. Lets hope that CBS can upgrade CSTV enough in order to compete with ESPN.

Who are the good guys in sports?

2005-11-16T19:49:00.000-06:00

The last couple of weeks we have been bombarded by the media coverage of Terrell Owens and the Eagles. With all of this negativity welcoming itself into our homes I began to wonder who are the good guys in sports? What I would like is to hear from people about the positive experiences they have had with athletes, on a personal level.

Growing up my hero was Ed "Too Tall" Jones. I thought that he was the coolest guy on Earth. This was not a popular hero considering that I grew up in Southern Maryland. All of freinds wanted to be Joe Thiesman or John Riggins but not me man I dreamed of playing for the Dooms Day Defense wearing Ed's #72. He wasn't the most popualr player on the team considering they had Tony Dorsett, Danny White, Randy White, Drew Pearson, and Harvey Martin; But to me there was just something special about Too Tall. Well move ahead 20 years and I am living in Memphis, 100 miles away from Too Tall's hometown of Jackson Tennessee. My meeting with him wouldn't take place in a bar, a stadium, or a card show, no it would take place at a Carnival Shoe store, where he he was doing an autograph signing. Now I have met alot of professional athletes, coming in contact through my jobs or personal contacts, but the nicest of them all was Ed "Too Tall" Jones. At the time I was 27 but when I went up to meet him I turned in to a 5 year old blabbering idiot. Although I digressed in age when I did get to meet him, he was patient and kind two things I haven't experienced from other athletes. Now I will say that I am not an autograph whore but he was one autograph that I always wanted. What is even cooler is that he took a picture to with me which made my year. While he wasn't the most famous player on the Cowboys he was and is my hero. Thanks Too Tall.

Now I want to hear stories like this in order to show that athletes aren't always ego driven jerks.

Along these lines there is a book that is an excellent refernce for this topic and It is called "Confessions of a Hero Worshiper" by Stephen Dubner. This read will really make you reflect about heros.

Joe Pa

2005-11-14T15:14:00.000-06:00

I am really happy that John Saunders gave Joe Paterno a chance to clearify his statements on the black athlete. Fisher Deberry opened a can of worms that had been closed since John Entines book "Tabboo", both of these gentlemen believe that there are physiological differences between white athletes and black atheletes. When Joe Pa made his comments, they were lumped in with these two until his interview with John Saunders. Joe Paterno stated that he didn't believe that there are physiological differences between white and black athletes rather there is a sociological tangent to this equation. Paterno, as do I, believes that the reason that there has been an influx of black athletes into college and professional sports is due to the fact that is a way out of the situation that many of these athletes come from. Athletics has been used as a way out for the poor and working class since their inception. Do you beleive that the gladiators who faught in Rome came from the ruling class? Why was the NBA made up of mainly Jewish players during it's early years? Same could be asked about football both college and pro in the 20's and 30's? Just as it was then it is today athletics is a way to a better future for many kids growing up below the poverty line. Is it right? No but that is the way things have always been. Many coaches will tell you that the ideal situation, to coach in high school, is either in a rural community or the inner city because the kids playing in these areas want out. Clear and simple, these areas are dying and there are no jobs left. Farming communities are being taken over by mega farms and the jobs that were once availible to people who live in the inner city, light industry and telemarketing, are now being outsourced to countries such as India and Mexico. This same discussion is being had about baseball and the number of Hispanic players now playing here in the US. I heard Reggie Jackson talking about the need for the RBI (Returning Baseball to the Inner City) because there isn't much interest in baseball amoung young African American kids. Why is this? Why are there so many Hispanic players now in MLB? Could it be because they are superior athletes? Or does it have to do with the fact that is the only way that many of them have to get out of the situation that they live in. We are talking about guys who grew up playing baseball using card board for gloves. Look at MLB and it's teams baseball academies in places like the Dominican Republic, it is unbeleivible. They like the poor kids, who grow up in the US, know that sports is there way out. It is not because they have physiological differences that make them better athletes it is because it is their way out and they want it more.

A Few Thoughts

2005-11-08T09:01:00.000-06:00

I have to say that the Kansas City Chiefs Coach made one gutsy call this weekend when he decided to go for the win instead of the tie. Coaches are not the most daring people when it comes to making these types of decisions, because there is so much on the line. That is what makes that call so refreshing, he had the nerve to take the chance. In doing this he showed the utmost confidence in his players. Loved the call!

The Tennessee Volunteers came into the season ranked number 3 in the country and have literally fallen off the face of the BCS map. While they may have top 5 talent, you can tell that there is real problems there, I noticed this when I watched the Phil Fulmer Coach's Show. While watching this I noticed how dejected that Coach Fulmer was while he was watching the tape of the Notre Dame game. He was making comments under his breath and he sounded really depressed when he spoke. I wonder if the season wasn't determined before it ever started, due to the off the field issues that surrounded the team?

The BCS dodge a major controversy this weekend with Virginia Tech losing to Miami. Lets hope that Alabama wins out so they can throw a monkey wrench into the miss that is the BCS.

Lets hope that the media's focus on the Eagles and Terrell Owens will be over soon. This relationship has been shady from the outset. How can a guy get traded to the Ravens, refuse to go and then go to the team that he wanted to? We can't blame TO for his behavior because it has been accepted by the NFL and fans for years. People laughed at his antics, when the teams he played on were winning, but when things start to go bad TO is just fuel for the fire. I respect the Eagles for the stand that they are taking because he was an integral part of their passing game. What is interesting from this is that it shows you how much damage one person can do to a team. While I have always hated the Eagles I now will root for them, except when they play Dallas.

Obsession

2005-11-03T10:15:00.000-06:00

Lately I have been reflecting upon my behavior and the one thought that I keep wondering about is, how did I become so obsessive? How did I get to the point where I actually believe that if I wear the right shirt my team will win? As I have grown older this behavior has mellowed a bit but I still believe that I have jerseys, hats, and tshirts that have magical powers that when worn will affect the outcome of the game. How does an educated person, with a degree in psychology, get to this point? I know there are other people out there like this but I still can't figure out how people get caught up in this type of thinking.

Thoughts

2005-10-31T18:35:00.000-06:00

There has always been rumors that the media is biased against the Dallas Cowboys, but I always had a hard time believing it until now. The Dallas Cowboys success has brought them both fans and detratcters. The detracters seem to be disguised the media. Example, I went to the Cowboys game this weekend and then drove 10 hours home. On my way home I flipped several sports stations on my XM radio. While listening to the wrap up of games, with John Clayton, every game was mentioned but one: Cowboys Cardinals game. This happened time and time again on all of the stations. Now I know that this is not a scientific study by any means but maybe it should be. This bias is usually brought to light during Super Bowl weekend when the Hall of Fame inductees are announced. Last year Michael Irvin was the only candidate in the last group that was not inducted into the Hall of Fame. Currently the Dallas Cowboys franchise is the winningest franchise in NFL history but it only has seven members of the Hall of Fame and two of those are not players. Why isn't Bob Hayes in the Hall? He truely is responsible for the modern day passing game. Where is Rayfeild Wright, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Harvey Martin, Lee Roy Jordan, Chuck Howley, Drew Pearson? If Lynn Swann then Drew Pearson. Fair is Fair. Drew had better numbers. Now I know there will be at least 2 players going in next 5 years, Troy and Emmitt but there are several more that need consideration as well: Irvin, Larry Allen, Woodson, Jimmy Johnson, Charles Haley, and Dieon Sanders? The last two will probably go with 49ers and Falcons respectively. With this my question still remains is there a bias? It sounds like a future research study.

Does Anyone Care?

2005-10-27T09:18:00.000-05:00

Yesterday it was announced that Sheryl Swoops was a lesbian. The question that I have is who cares? Honestly why do we need to know this in the first place. I really don't understand why celebrities, in general, want to reveal all of their lifes secrets and thoughts to us, the public. Take Tom Cruise's beliefs on psychology and mental health treatment, anyone with a lick of sense should know that he has an agenda that he is trying to inindate the world with, that being the teachings of the Church of Scientology. I don't care. There are more pertanent issues that people are dealing with than the need of Sheryl Swoops to tell people that she is gay. The thing that bothers me about this is the attention that it is being given in print, the internet, and on ESPN. The only thing that this story accomplishes is it reinforces the stereotype that many people have about female athletes, that the majority of them are gay. You can decide whether this is a pertanant issue but from my point of view: I could care less.

Trends

2005-10-25T11:44:00.000-05:00

I don't know if anyone noticed the two trends this past weekend in the world of football. In college, there was the trend of teams scoring 50 or more points and in the NFL the number of games that had a team winning on the final play.

A ethical question arose on saturday night, while watching some of the Penn State Illinois game: How does Joe Pa play in the second half after scoring 56 points in the 1st? When playing a conference foe you don't want to run the score up on them because it might come back to huant you one day. But when you are playing a team, as bad as Illinois, how do you make it look as if you aren't running up the score? In the second half Penn State had their 3rd string in and they still could move the ball. This is a tough question for a coach unless your name is Steve Spurrier.

Quote of the week:
I think the nature of man is to be aggressive and football is a violent game. But I think the very violence is one of the great things about the game, because a man has to learn control. He is going to go in to knock somebody's block off, and yet he must keep a rein on it. I can't think of any other place that demands such discipline.
Vince Lombardi

Simply The Best

2005-10-23T16:59:00.000-05:00

Many, around the country, believe that Reggie Bush is the best running back in college football, right now, but I beg to differ.The best running back plays for the University of Memphis and his name is DeAngelo Williams. Yesterday he surpassed Herschel Walker and several others to move into 7th place in total rushing yards. While there have been a few others, from non-BCS conferences, to do this DeAngelo is extremely special. Coming into the year Memphis fans were very excited about his pontential Heisman bid but those hopes were dashed when he rushed for only 85 yards against Ole Miss. The untold story about this is that on the first offensive series the starting quaterback broke his leg and the coaching staff had to scrap its game plan. Since this game the Tigers have had to chnage their offensive philosophy because of injuries. Memphis is now using it's fourth different staring quaterback of the season, converted wide receiver Maurice Avery. In this time Memphis has lost its second string qb to a broken leg, used a true freshman who is 5' 11' and weighs 185, and have used Deangelo at qb in the single wing. Added to the problems at quaterback is the fact that the Tigers have a completly brand new offensive line that frequently rotates players in and out of the game. With all of this uncertainty Deangelo has step up his game and is averaging 187 yds a game. In his seven games he has rushed for 85 yds: Ole Miss, 205:3 tds: UT Chattanooga, 223 yds:3 tds: Tulsa, 236 yds:2 tds: UTEP, 136 yds: UCF, 198 yds:2 tds: Houston,and 226 yds:2 tds:East Carolina. Mind you all of these defenses are lining up in 8 man fronts to stop him and he is still gaining yardage. He is putting up remarkable numbers in spite of this. This is why I beleive that DeAngelo is better than Reggie Bush; Reggie Bush has not had to face the adversity that DeAngelo has this season. While I am realitic that DeAngelo will not win the Heisman, my only hope is that he is invited to the ceremony. If this happens it will be a huge boost of self esteem to a football program that was a perenial loser until he and Tommy West arrived. You can vote for the Heisman @ http://www.voteforheisman.com. All I can say that while Reggie Bush will get the hype in college, DeAngelo will get the check in the NFL.

No Love Lost

2005-10-21T08:59:00.000-05:00

Phil Fulmer makes his long awaited return to Bryant-Denny Stadium this Saturday. The Alabama faithful have been waiting with baited breath for the kickoff at 2:30 tomarrow. Why, you ask? Well many Alabama fans hold Phil Fulmer responsible for the last five years of probation and controversy surrounding the Alabama Football program. Reports, out of Tuscaloosa, say that fans have his effegy ready to burn. I have even heard stories that the stundents plan to throw dounuts at him when he runs out of the visiting lockerroom. Well lets hope that is all that they throw at him, i.e. whiskey bottles. Well the last thing that I want to say is "Roll Tide Roll".

Spammers

2005-10-20T17:04:00.000-05:00

I am writing this to let the spammers, who like to piggyback your advertising through my comment page, to stop. While I want this page to be an open forum, people like you make this hard. If I have to I will shut down the comments link. I am not getting paid by you, so don't think that you will get away with your free advertising.

Great Time of Year

2005-10-19T19:35:00.000-05:00

I have to say that this is the best time of year for sports. Just about every night you have either NFL, College Football, baseball, and coming soon college basketball. If you love sports, as I do, then you are in seventh heven. With that said I want to have me say on the Greatest College Game Ever Played: USC vs. Notre Dame this past weekend. I have to say that the next big game is will be the next greatest game ever played. I am willing to bet that the UCLA vs. USC game will be the next greatest game ever. Can we please stop with the lists and hype that surrounds sports. I know that they can be fun to talk about but when is enough enough, in terms throwing the term greatest around. Is Peyton Manning the greatest of all time? How about Vick? Barry Sanders? Emmitt Smith? The media has weakened the term "the greatest" so when their is truly a great game we won't recognize or it's status has been cheapened. According to ESPN we have the greatest sporting event at least once a week. What about the games of the past or the players for that matter. Where does Jim Thorpe fit in to the greatest equation? At least he has the credentials to back it up? What about Red Grange and his accomplishments? Here is a man who is responsible for the modern day NFL. Do we still hold Sammy Sosa's and Mark McGuire's accomplishments in the same light as we did two years ago? Are they still two of the greatest home run hitters ever? What about Carl Lewis and his accomplishments, aren't they pretty great? What I am trying to say is that the greatest athlete or sporting event is subjective. If you ask 700 people this question you will probably receive 700 different answers.

High School Football

2005-10-18T16:21:00.000-05:00

Since the movie Friday Night Lights, shoe companies and media companies have infiltrated the world of high school football. Have you noticed the Nike commercials that feature the NFL stars while they played high school football? This is an attempt to ambush market Reebok and their deal that they signed with the NFL.NFL athletes that have deals with Nike cannot use the marks that they wear on the feild so they so footage of them playing in high school. While I don't have a major problem with this, I do have a problem with the reality tv show "Bound for Glory". ESPN is clearly taking advantage of these kids in order to find content for their channel. It would be one thing if Dick Butkus was really the coach but he wasn't; the real coach was Coach Lou. The show is total hype, all the while promenantly displaying the Reebok logo. Ray Crokett and Dick Butkus come in and say they are going to change things then they quit before the season is even over, after the team starts out 1-6. What message are you sending to these kids? Get ready kids you will be used and let down time and time again all in the name of trying to keep a old athletes name in the public eye. Maybe if he would have played to the camera more, when he was announcing XFL games, maybe the league wouldn't have failed. Better yet maybe he should have worked harder at acting then his saturday morning tv show, on NBC, wouldn't have failed. I guess the problem that I have is that he quit on the kids. In today's society if you quit on a kid than nine times out of ten that kid will not ry again. Rather they will devote more time to playing video games.

The Quick Out

2005-10-17T19:27:00.000-05:00

I might be in the minority but I have to say that I am really tired of Fantasy Football. The arguement in favor of it, is that it brings an added level of excitement to the games, on both saturday and sunday. I don't need the added excitement, I am the type of person who can find a team to root for in any game, even if it is Temple vs. Florida Atlantic. What I don't need is the information overload that takes place on the scrolling ticker giving me fantasy stats, I don't care. I don't care if Adam Vinateri went 6 for 6 and score a touchdown on a fake fieldgoal. What is sad is that this insanity has now infiltrated college football. Why? Why do we need college fantasy football? We have to deal with sports wagering infommercials weekly now we have to deal with fantasy football updates and weekly handicapping shows. What really kills me about fantasy experts is that these are guys who have never stepped on a field or has thrown a pass. Instead they are stats nerds who are obsessed with YAC's or how many TDs Deon Branch had against the Bengals. These guys don't care about the game, the integrity of the game, or the history of it. Instead they have brought an annoying aspect to our weekly viewinf experience. You know I hear freinds say all the time that betting on games brings an exciting aspect to the game also.

The Slant

2005-10-17T18:01:00.000-05:00

There are a few stories that I want to discuss that happened this weekend, the first being the 60 Minutes interview of Bill Romonowski. I have seen some intense people in my life but the look in that man's eyes was something else. After watching that interview my opinion changed in favor of him, because for once I could really relate to what an athlete was saying. I knew what he was talking about when discribed hurting people on the bottom of the pile and the intense nature in which he played the game. While listening to his interview I was reminded of interviews with former NFL stars, that are now hailed as great players but played with same intensity, such as Chuck Bednarick and Deacon Jones. Except for the issues with steriods I have to say that Romo was a true throwback player. Compare his antics with what Chuck Bednarick did to Frank Gifford or LT did to Joe Thiesman, there really isn't much differecnce except time. These guys are now seen as heroes of the hall whereas Romo is seen as a dirty player who took steriods.

The other important note to take away from the interview is the damage that Romo has had to his cognitive functioning. He should be the poster child for Post Concussion Syndrome. If you really payed attention you would have noticed his slurred speech and response time to the answers of the questions. The sad thing is that during his career he paid an enormous amount attention to his body and what went into it but he neglected the one thing that he would need after his career: His brain. He will be an interesting case to watch as he ages, to see if he developes Parkinson's like Ali has.

I have to give recognition to one of the nation's less heralded players, that being DeAngelo Williams. This weekend he surpassed Archie Griffin on the all time leading rusher list. This year Deangelo has had one game in which he didn't rush for nearly 200 yards, that being against Ole Miss in which he rushed for 85 yards. In the last five games he is averaging over 200 yards a game.